FORT MYERS, Fla. - The controversy over whether major league catchers should put themselves in harm's way at the plate spiked again Sunday when San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said he told catcher Buster Posey not to block the plate.

Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan said today that the issue has been debated among MLB executives ad nauseum and that while opinions are strong on each side, a rules change doesn't appear to be forthcoming.

The play at the plate is one of the most violent parts of what is essentially a noncontact sport but generally doesn't cause serious injury. Then-Twin Torii Hunter famously bowled over the White Sox's Jamie Burke to score the winning run in a 2004 game; Burke emerged with a mild concussion.

Posey suffered a fractured leg and torn ligaments, ending his season.

"There's a certain way to take a guy out; there's a certain way not to go after a guy," Ryan said. "I think if you're going to be a catcher, you have to be prepared to have a collision. It's unfortunate what happened to Posey; no one wants to see that happen to anybody. But I think being a catcher, that's part of the business."

Asked if major league baseball could go the way of NHL, which fines and suspends players for what the league deems dangerous play, Ryan said yes.

"I think they would. If somebody went after a guy, I think you'd probably see something come out of the Major League Baseball office," he said.